Hussein-Arce threatens to steal the show on Corrales-Castillo undercard
 By Anthony Cocks (October 8, 2005) 
Photo © Tom Casino/SHOWTIME
Immediate rematches of classic battles are something of a rarity in boxing these days. Rarer still are rematches of the two best fights of the year being featured on the same card. But that is exactly what is happening this Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Centre in Las Vegas, Nevada when Top Rank presents their talent stacked ‘On More Time’ card that will feature lightweights Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo in what promises to be another instant classic and Hussein Hussein, 28-2 (21), getting his chance at revenge against punching machine Jorge Arce, 40-3-1 (30).

While most fight fans are focusing their attention on the headline fight between Corrales and Castillo, Hussein Hussein is looking to steal the show on the Showtime pay-per-view telecast by reversing his 10th round TKO loss to the wildly popular former WBC junior flyweight champion Arce.

As the main support bout to the heavily hyped super featherweight showdown between Erik Morales and Manny Pacquiao in March of this year, Hussein and Arce stole the show with a furious display of punching prowess that saw both fighters trade blows at close quarters for ten fast paced rounds. The fight was a clear frontrunner for Fight of the Year before Corrales and Castillo went one better in their pier six brawl two months later.

The first fight between Hussein and Arce had all the elements of an instant classic. Early in the first round a solid left hook caught Hussein on the jaw and deposited him heavily on the canvas. And while it looked like the bout wouldn’t last much longer the 30-year-old Australian showed the heart of a champion to battle his way back into the fight, opening up a nasty cut on the bridge of Arce’s nose in the middle rounds that continued to leak blood throughout the contest. As the rounds wore on both fighters had their moments, with Arce coming forward and keeping up a phenomenal workrate while Hussein fought off the ropes picking his spots for his heavy-handed shots. In the 10th round the 26-year-old Mexican sent Hussein to the canvas again and a few moments later Arce repeated the treatment. Despite Hussein making it back to his feet his trainer Jeff Fenech entered the ring to save his fighter from further punishment.

Hussein co-trainer Billy Hussein is confident that they have made the necessary changes to reverse the result in the rematch.

“We have made a few more adjustments,” said Billy Hussein of his brother’s preparation. “We’ve sparred more rounds and prepared for a hard fight obviously and we’re going to fight a different fight this time. Hussy’s going to fight him, but if he stays off the ropes and backs Arce up I think he’s got a better chance of winning. We want him to stay in the middle and box along, use his hand speed and keep his hands high.”

While Billy Hussein says that Hussy wasn’t surprised by Arce’s relentless pressure and workrate, he believes that the left hook that dropped his brother in the first round affected his equilibrium and changed the complexion of the fight.

“No, he wasn’t surprised at all,” said Hussein. “You’ve got to remember something, Hussy was hurt from round one. He fought with a smashed jaw and he was in a different fight. That was the wrong fight that Hussy fought from the first round on when he got hit and he fought like that for ten and a half rounds and he didn’t stop, we stopped it. So I believe that if Hussy doesn’t get hit early or if he survives the early shots he’ll win the fight, not a problem.”

Although Hussein is confident his brother will be victorious, he maintains the utmost respect for Arce and his fighting spirit.

“Arce’s a warrior, a typical Mexican fighter, a warrior,” said Hussein. “We never underestimated him from day one and we knew for a fact that if that cut over his nose happened anywhere else in the world they would’ve stopped the fight... But if you listen to his corner they were telling him to box against Hussy. They were saying that Hussy’s too strong, don’t fight him, he’s a strong flyweight, but Arce doesn’t know any other way to fight than to fight. He’s a warrior mate, but it takes two to tango to make a great fight.”

One aspect of rematches that can have a detrimental effect from a fan’s perspective is familiarity, which often leads to the fighters being overly cautious. But Hussein says that his brother is looking forward to another fast-paced fight.

“Hussy is confident from watching his previous fights, from watching his last fight when he won the WBC flyweight interim title,” explained Hussein. “Hussy’s not concerned with what Arce brings to the table or what he does, but he’s a great world champion and he knew that he was up against it all the time. Hussy’s biggest concern was going over and fighting in Vegas in front of 14,000 Mexicans. That was harder for him because obviously you’re behind the eight ball before you even start there. But Hussy has put that all behind him; he’s fought in big arenas before, he’s ready to tango. Arce’s got a great reputation overseas but Hussy knows what he’s up against and he’s more than ready. He’s been asking for this and he wants to go over there ASAP.”

The key to victory according to Hussein are the modifications that they have made to Hussy’s training regime.

“Hussy’s had a way better preparation,” said Hussein. “We’ve had a lot more rounds sparring. We would’ve done 160-odd rounds in sparring with I think six or seven different sparring partners, where for the first one we only boxed a few rounds with Lovemore [Ndou], we boxed with Vic Darchinyan, a southpaw, which we didn’t worry about then but now we’ve adjusted everything. We’re going to go to America and we’re going to have a few spars while we’re there, just change different things, different weights, you know. It’s been a lot better preparation both mentally and physically and we’ve got a new strategy for the fight.”

While Team Hussein is not looking past Arce, they do have a clear idea of who they want to fight next providing they come away with the win. It’s a refreshing attitude into today’s current climate of risk versus reward matchmaking.

“Hussy wants to avenge his losses,” said Hussein of his brother’s future plans. “He wants to fight Arce, he wants to beat Arce, and he wants to fight Pongsaklek [Wonjongkam, longtime WBC flyweight champion] right away. If everything goes to plan and Hussy comes up victorious – and we’re not looking beyond this fight but if that does happen – Pongsaklek is the one on his mind, he wants the title. But more than that he wants to avenge his loss. It doesn’t matter whether Pongsaklek is the world champion or not, he wants to be the guy that beat him. That’s why he was so keen when they offered the Arce rematch. We didn’t even discuss purses or nothing, we just took the fight.”

While the first fight had fans on the edge of their seats for the exciting pier six brawl, Hussein admits that it was a difficult fight to watch from the corner.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it, because I know wasn’t enjoying it watching it ringside mate!” laughed Hussein. “It will be a different fight but I hope it will be enjoyable for you when we’re victorious, but not out of excitement. I don’t want to see an exciting fight, I want to see a smarter fight!”
© Copyright / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing 1998-2005